swerte99 registration

swerte99 registration Yu Miao smiles as he stands among the 10,000 books crowded on rows of bamboo shelves in his newly reopened bookstore. It’s in Washington’s vibrant Dupont Circle neighborhood, far from its last location in Shanghai, where the Chinese government forced him out of business six years ago. “There is no pressure from the authorities here,” said Yu, the owner of JF Books, Washington’s only Chinese bookseller. “I want to live without fear.” Independent bookstores have become a new battleground in China, swept up in the ruling Communist Party’s crackdown on dissent and free expression. The Associated Press found that at least a dozen bookstores in the world’s second-largest economy have been shuttered or targeted for closure in the last few months alone, squeezing the already tight space for press freedom. One bookstore owner was arrested over four months ago. The crackdown has had a chilling effect on China’s publishing industry. Bookstores are common in China, but many are state-owned. Independent bookstores are governed by an intricate set of rules with strict controls now being more aggressively policed, according to bookstore owners. Printing shops and street vendors are also facing more rigorous government inspections by the National Office Against Pornography and Illegal Publication. The office did not respond to interview requests from The Associated Press. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement to AP, said it was not aware of a crackdown on bookstores. Yu isn't alone in taking his business out of the country. Chinese bookstores have popped up in Japan, France, Netherlands and elsewhere in the U.S. in recent years, as a result of both stricter controls in China and growing Chinese communities abroad. It’s not just the books' contents that are making Chinese authorities wary. In many communities, bookstores are cultural centers where critical thinking is encouraged, and conversations can veer into politics and other topics not welcomed by the authorities. The bookstore owner who was arrested was Yuan Di, also called Yanyou, the founder of Jiazazhi, an artistic bookstore in Shanghai and Ningbo on China’s eastern coast. He was taken away by police in June, according to Zhou Youlieguo, who closed his own bookstore in Shanghai in September. Yuan's arrest was also confirmed by two other people who declined to be named for fear of retribution. The charge against Yuan is unclear. An official in Ningbo's Bureau of Culture, Radio Television and Tourism, which oversees bookstores, declined comment, noting the case is under investigation. The Ningbo police didn’t respond to an interview request. Michael Berry, director of UCLA's Center for Chinese Studies, said a sluggish Chinese economy may be driving the government to exert greater control. “The government might be feeling that this is a time to be more cautious and control this kind of discourse in terms of what people are consuming and reading to try to put a damper on any potential unrest and kind of nip it in the bud,” Berry said. These bookstore owners face dual pressures, Berry added. One is the political clampdown; the other is the global movement, especially among young people, toward digital media and away from print publications. Wang Yingxing sold secondhand books in Ningbo for almost two decades before being ordered to close in August. Local officials informed Wang he lacked a publication business license even though he wasn’t eligible to obtain one as a second-hand seller. Faded outlines marked the spot where a sign for Fatty Wang’s Bookstore once hung. Spray-painted black letters on the bookstore’s window read: “Temporarily closed”. “We’re promoting culture, I’m not doing anything wrong, right? I’m just selling some books and promoting culture,” Wang said, tying a bundle of books together with brown wrapper and white nylon string. “Then why won’t you leave me alone?” Wang added. Half a dozen other people heaved boxes of books into the back of a van. The books, Wang said, were being sold to cafe and bar owners who wanted to burnish little libraries for their patrons. Some would be sent to a warehouse in Anhui. The rest, he said, were to be sent to a recycling station to be pulped and destroyed. Bookstores are not the only target. Central authorities have also cracked down on other places such as printing shops, internet bars, gaming rooms and street vendors. Strict inspections have taken place all over the country, according to Chinese authorities. Authorities in Shanghai inspected printing places and bookstores, looking for “printing, copying or selling illegal publications,” according to a government document. This shows the authorities are not just barring the sale of some publications, but tracing them back to the printing process. They found some printing stores did not “register the copy content as required” and demanded they fix the problem quickly. In Shaoyang, a city in China’s south, authorities said they will be “cracking down on harmful publications in accordance with the law.” The Communist Party has various powers to control which books are available. Any publication without a China Standard Book Number is considered illegal, including self-published books and those imported without special licenses. Books can be banned even after they are published if restrictions are later tightened — often for unclear reasons — or if the writers say something upsetting to the Chinese authorities. Yet despite these restrictions and the crackdown on existing booksellers, more bookstores are opening. Recent figures are unavailable, but a survey by Bookdao, a media company that focuses on the book industry, shows more than twice as many bookstores opened than closed in China in 2020. Liu Suli, who has been running All Sages Books in Beijing for over three decades, says there are many idealists in the industry. “Everyone who reads has a dream of having a bookstore,” Liu says, despite the challenges. In many cases, those dreams are being fulfilled outside China. Yu and other Chinese booksellers around the world stock their shelves with books from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China, as well as books published locally. Zhang Jieping, founder of Nowhere, a bookstore in Taiwan and Thailand, said there's a growing demand for books from migrants who left China after the COVID-19 pandemic. “They don’t just want to speak fluent English or Japanese to fit in, they want cultural autonomy,” Zhang said. “They want more community spaces. Not necessarily a bookstore, but in any format — a gallery, or a restaurant.” Li Yijia is a 22-year-old student who arrived in Washington from Beijing in August. One Sunday morning, she wandered through JF Books where she found titles in Chinese and English. She said a Chinese bookstore feels like “another world in a bubble” which helps her critical thinking by allowing her to read books in both languages. “It also relieves homesickness, like a Chinese restaurant,” Li added. The closure of the bookstores leads the owners to different paths. Some ended up in jail, some went looking for jobs to feed their families. Some started a journey to leave censorship behind. Since he closed his Shanghai bookstore, Zhou, 39, has moved to Los Angeles, but hasn't decided what his next step will be. He said his fully licensed independent bookstore, which sold art books and self-published works by artists and translators, was fined thousands of dollars and he was interrogated over a dozen times during the past four years. He's seen colleagues jailed for selling “illegal publications.” All the self-published book artists and editors he worked with asked him to take down their work after warnings by local authorities. Zhou said he could not handle further harassment He said it was as if he were “smuggling drugs instead of selling books.” The existence of his bookstore, Zhou said, was “a rebellion and a resistance,” which is not there anymore. Associated Press writer Dake Kang in Ningbo, China, contributed to this report.: All records related to interception, including the orders and the intercepted messages, must be securely and “with extreme secrecy” destroyed by the government’s review committee, as well as the authorising entities — Union or state home secretary — and law enforcement agencies, every six months, according to the new interception rules notified by the Centre, with experts raising questions about accountability and transparency. The Telecommunications (Procedures and Safeguards for Lawful Interception of Messages) Rules, 2024 — which replace Rule 419 and 419A of the Telegraph Rules, 1951 — were brought into effect by the department of telecommunications (DoT) on Friday. The draft rules were released for public consultation on August 29. They have been issued under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which allows the Centre to specify one or more agencies to intercept messages for five reasons — in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence and security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, and preventing incitement to the commission of any offence. “While under the earlier rule, one could still hope to get some information about the interception orders by filing RTIs related to the Review Committee, that is also now gone. It will be as if the interception never existed. Where is then the scope for oversight and accountability?” Namrata Maheshwari, senior policy counsel and encryption policy lead at Access Now, said. Under the new rules, even findings of the review committee, which is responsible for assessing the legality of the interception orders, will need to be destroyed. This review committeeis empowered to set aside non-compliant interception orders. Interception records that law enforcement agencies are required to maintain include details of the intercepted messages, person whose messages have been intercepted, officer or agency to whom the message has been disclosed, number of copies of message made, date of destruction of copies, and duration for which the interception order was in force. The composition of the review committees that must confirm the interception orders at central and state level also remains the same. For Maheshwari, this is a problem as this means the review committee is not independent from the executive. “Independent judicial oversight or parliamentary oversight over surveillance orders, as in many other regions, should be the norm,” she added. DoT and the telecommunication entity must also destroy records within two months of discontinuation of interception, as is the case now and was reiterated in the draft rules. According to the rules, the interception order must specify: the authorised agency that will intercept; and one or more of the five reasons for which interception can be ordered and will limit use of intercepted messages to these reasons only. Unless revoked earlier, the order will remain in force for a maximum of 60 days but can be renewed. No order can remain in force for more than 180 days. Interception orders cannot be passed if the information can be acquired through “other reasonable means”, the rules say. An interception order can be issued by the Union or state home secretary. In “unavoidable circumstances”, a duly authorised joint secretary-level officer may issue the order. Lower threshold for orders The notified rules lower the threshold for circumstances where officers other than the Union or state home secretary, or the joint secretary-level officer, can issue interception orders. Earlier, in “emergent cases in remote areas” or “for operational reasons” when it was not feasible for the home secretaries to issue the order, the head or second senior-most officer of an authorised law enforcement or security agency, not below the rank of inspector general of police, could issue the order. Now, an officer not below the rank of an IGP at state level, or the head or second senior-most officer of an authorised agency at the Central level, in “remote areas or for operational reasons” can issue an interception order. By removing the requirement for “emergent cases”, the threshold is lowered. What constitutes an “emergent case” depends on the interpretation of the executive, Nikhil Narendran, partner at Trilegal, said, adding: “Public emergency could be one standard.” These orders will need to be confirmed by the home secretary (union or state) within seven working days from the date of issue. If not confirmed, the interception must immediately stop, the intercepted messages cannot be used for any purpose, including as evidence in court, and copies must be destroyed within two days. “There is no judicial remedy spelt out for persons affected by the orders that were not confirmed by the home secretary,” Maheshwari said. “So it is possible that an interception takes place, is then halted, and the persons affected never find out. Notice and intimation, as feasible under different circumstances, and judicial remedy are key to any surveillance framework in a democracy.” All interception orders must be sent to the relevant review committee within seven working days of being issued or confirmed. The notified rules exclude demonstration and testing of lawful interception systems and monitoring facilities that telecom entities might be required to put in place by the government, a departure from Rule 419A. The provision to fine or suspend/revoke the licence of service providers for not maintaining secrecy and confidentiality of such orders or for unauthorised interception has been removed in the notified rules. Telecom entities will now be responsible for the actions of both their employees and their vendors that result in any unauthorised interceptions. Ambiguity over entities covered As is the case with the parent act, it is not clear whether telecommunication services, and thus telecom entities, include online communication services such as WhatsApp, Signal, FaceTime, and potentially even email services such as Gmail and Outlook. While the then communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, after the bill was passed in Parliament in December 2023, had said that online communication services are not included within the ambit of the Act, he did not make this statement on the floor of either house, and the definitions within the act remain ambiguous enough to allow for the regulation of such services. In case of end-to-end encrypted services such as WhatsApp and Signal, the act and the interception rules thus have significant implications. “While the minister had publicly stated that OTT services would not fall within the purview of the Act, this statement is not legally binding, and the definition of telecom services in the Act is broad enough to facilitate a range of interpretations,” Maheshwari said. This ambiguity has been a significant point of confusion, so much so that in the TRAI open house discussion on how authorisations (the regime that replaces the extant system of granting licenses to telecom entities) should work, telcos like Jio and Airtel repeatedly disagreed with associations like Broadband India Forum that represent the technology companies on whether or not services such as WhatsApp need specific authorisations from the government to operate in India. The notified rules also empower the government to exempt certain telecom entities from needing to comply with obligations related to interception. “The scope of this remains unclear. How will the government exercise this exemption? Will it be determined by size of the entity? Their technical ability? This needs to be clearly defined for predictability which is expected from every policy,” Maheshwari said. How will an interception ordered Once the home secretary (or other authorised officers) issues an interception order, it will be sent to the authorised agency (the law enforcement agency doing the interception). The authorised agency will send the order either “in writing or using other secure mode of communication” determined by the central government to the DoT or the telecom entity. Orders can be physically delivered only by officers who are at least sub-inspectors. The DoT or the telecom entity must acknowledge receipt of an interception order within 2 hours. The rules require confidentiality, “extreme secrecy”, and “utmost care and precaution” to be maintained by the law enforcement agency, the DoT, and the telecom entity while dealing with interception orders. Only authorised nodal officers in each of these entities are allowed to handle any matters related to interception. The authorised agency must appoint two nodal officers, at least at the rank of superintendent of police, to send the order to the nodal officer of the DoT (two such officers in every service area) or the telecom entity (like an Airtel or a Jio). Each telecom entity is required to notify the central government of the details of two senior employees in every service area of its operation who will act as nodal officers to implement the interception orders, a requirement that Maheshwari says might prove to be too onerous for smaller entities. The notified rules require the nodal officers in DoT and the telecom entity to submit fortnightly reports on the first and sixteenth of each month. These reports must have a list of interception orders received, reference number, date of issuance or confirmation, date and time or receipt of orders, and date and time of implementation of orders.

A teenage West Ham academy goalkeeper has died aged 15 after suffering from cancer. Oscar Fairs from Benfleet, Essex, was diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023 and underwent seven surgeries, one round of chemotherapy and one round of radiotherapy to be told palliative care was the only option. A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family raise £100,000 towards a treatment trial in France. It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United confirm the tragic passing of our U15s Academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, following his brave battle with cancer. Rest in peace, brave Oscar. — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 13, 2024 West Ham footballers donated £27,000, chairman David Sullivan donated £10,000 and Arsenal footballer and former West Ham star Declan Rice gave £5,000, according to Ms Fairs. On Friday, West Ham announced that the 15-year-old had died. Sporting director Mark Noble said: “Oscar was adored by everyone at the Academy – not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. “I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – (my son) Lenny and his teammates all loved him. “He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age. “The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the Club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.” All scheduled Academy fixtures over the weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect.

Nebraska's Nate Boerkircher and Luke Lindenmeyer earn Dana Holgorsen's trust — and snaps

Dubai, UAE , Dec. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CoinW, the world's pioneering cryptocurrency trading platform , will list BIO, a DeSci project, on DeSci Zone. For all CoinW users, the BIO/USDT will be officially available for trading on January 3rd 2024, at 10:00 (UTC). To celebrate the listing of BIO, we are launching the " BIO Bounty Program" event with a reward pool of 10,000 USDT. Empowering DeSci Through Blockchain Bio Protocol aims to reshape biotechnology research funding, development, and intellectual property (IP) sharing through its innovative decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) model. By addressing disparities in traditional biomedical research funding, the project focuses on critical areas such as rare diseases, longevity, and emerging health challenges. As a recognized leader in the DeSci space, Bio Protocol has garnered attention and support from major players, including Binance, with total funding exceeding $33 million. Developed by the same team behind VitaDAO, a project backed by Pfizer, Bio Protocol exemplifies the synergy of blockchain technology and scientific innovation. BIO Tokenomics and Utility The BIO token powers the Bio Protocol ecosystem, offering a wide range of use cases: 10,000 USDT Limited-Time Offer for CoinW Community To celebrate the listing, 10,000 USDT equivalent BIO prize pool has been up for grabs from January 3rd, 2024, at 10:00 to January 10th, 2024, at 16:00 (UTC). By participating in events such as registration, trading, and community events, CoinW users have the opportunity to share in a prize pool of 10,000 USDT. To claim your rewards, please click here . About CoinW CoinW is a pioneering crypto trading platform that prioritizes security, transparency, and user-centric principles. With advanced technology, deep liquidity, and a wide range of supported cryptocurrencies, the company has amassed a broad user base to become one of the world's most secure crypto exchanges . Committed to security, transparency, and compliance, the CoinW exchange upholds the highest regulatory standards and actively contributes to the advancement of the crypto industry. To learn more about CoinW, you can visit the official website , and follow CoinW's Twitter Account , Btok , and Telegram Group . About BIO Bio Protocol is a DAO-based initiative aimed at addressing funding inequities in biotechnology research, fostering development, and sharing IP. It prioritizes research on rare diseases, longevity, and emerging health challenges. CONTACT: marketing at coinw.comNumber Of 5G Mobile Users In China Exceeds One Billion

MoU signed between Water Resources Department and SAC-ISRO under leadership of Gujarat CM

Biden's pardon reflects historic controversy surrounding US presidential powerUnwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire Tablets

B.C. prosecutors proceed with motor vehicle charges, not criminal, after fatal crashMalik Moore goes for 30, Grizzlies fall on the road to St. ThomasTrump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection

Georgia Southern trying to rebound at Coastal CarolinaSan Francisco, California–(Newsfile Corp. – December 25, 2024) – Voted.News announced today the launch of its multi-language blockchain news service after a year of development and testing. The platform transforms complex distributed ledger technology coverage into 30-second digests while maintaining access to original sources, addressing the critical challenge of information overload in blockchain markets. Voted.News platform showcasing multi-language blockchain news intelligence Revolutionary Time-Saving Approach The platform’s proprietary AI technology, combined with expert human verification, processes and curates approximately 50 significant blockchain news items daily from leading technology sources. Each digest includes impact scoring and technology trend indicators, enabling professionals to assess developments instantly while retaining the option to access full articles for deeper analysis. Key Platform Features: “The blockchain sector generates thousands of news items daily, but professionals need only the truly significant updates,” said Danylo Vash, CEO of Voted.News. “Our platform reduces an 8-minute article review to a 30-second comprehensive digest, while ensuring readers can always access the full context when needed.” The platform’s launch includes RSS feed integration, allowing users to receive filtered, high- impact blockchain news directly in their preferred news reader. Additional language support for the RSS feed is scheduled for early 2025, along with expansion to include more global languages. “In the rapidly evolving blockchain space, quick access to verified information is crucial,” added Vash. “By combining AI efficiency with human expertise, we’re ensuring professionals never miss critical technological developments while eliminating information noise.” About Voted.News Founded in 2023, Voted.News transforms blockchain technology news through its proprietary AI-powered platform that combines automated analysis with expert human verification. The platform maintains dedicated news versions in five global languages, delivering significant industry developments that impact decision-making. Through its streamlined, zero-advertisement approach, Voted.News enables efficient, informed analysis of blockchain technology while maintaining comprehensive coverage through direct source attribution. Voted.News – Blockchain Intelligence News Platform Logo About FerzTech Ltd Hodl.Press offers in-depth crypto market analysis, expert insights, security-focused reporting, and educational guides, aiming to empower readers to navigate the rapidly evolving crypto landscape with confidence. Hodl.Press sets itself apart by delving deep into market trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements, serving as a trusted guide for both seasoned traders and newcomers in the crypto space. Press Inquiries FerzTech Ltd https://voted.news Danylo Vash pr@hodl.press 306 Victoria House, Victoria Mahé Seychelles To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/234967 #distro

STOCK MARKET SNAPSHOT FOR 14/12/2024The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner.Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash pays tribute to stepdaughter Lucy five months after her shock suicide at age 25 Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By ASHLEIGH GRAY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 20:30 GMT, 6 December 2024 | Updated: 20:48 GMT, 6 December 2024 e-mail 9 shares View comments Slash paid tribute to his late stepdaughter Lucy Bleu-Knight on Friday on what would have been her 26th birthday. The 59-year-old Guns N' Roses lead guitarist took to Instagram to share two photos and a heartfelt caption in remembrance of Lucy. 'Happy Birthday dearest Lucy. We celebrate today what would have been your 26th year in our hearts. We miss you so much it's indescribable. Love you forever,' he wrote. One photo showed the makeup artist with red lipstick on as she held a gray cat in her arms. A second image featured the rock star sitting side-by-side with his girlfriend Meegan Hodges's daughter at a table. It comes after Knight's shock suicide on July 19. Slash paid tribute to his late stepdaughter Lucy Bleu-Knight on Friday, December 6 - what would have been her 26th birthday The 59-year-old Guns N' Roses lead guitarist took to Instagram to share two photos and a heartfelt caption in remembrance of Lucy Two days later, on July 21, Slash — real name Saul Hudson — announced her death online in a joint statement with her mother. It read: 'Lucy-Bleu Knight (December 6, 1998), beloved daughter of Meegan Hodges and Mark Knight, stepdaughter of Samantha Somers Knight and Slash, sister of Scarlet Knight, stepsister of London and Cash Hudson, passed away peacefully in Los Angeles, California, on July 19, 2024.' Read More Cher reveals which rock star boyfriend told her he loved her after just one date when 'we hadn't even kissed' The note continued, 'Lucy-Bleu was an incredibly talented artist, a passionate dreamer, and a charming, lovable, sweet soul. 'The family asks for privacy at this time and requests that social media speculation be kept to a minimum as they grieve and process this devastating loss.' Hours after the tragic news, a final post from Knight was shared on Instagram, with fans concluding that she had scheduled it. She shared a selfie and wrote in the caption, 'Whether I made you feel excluded, manipulated/ controlled you, told you to quit your day job from the comfort of being financially supported by my parents, or drowned real issues in toxic positivity-I am sorry.' The note concluded, 'Countless missed opportunities and connections due to a disgustingly big ego, insecure heart and fear of being vulnerable. May my soul learn to evolve from my poor job at being Lucy-Bleu. Peace.' Slash initially dated Lucy-Bleu's mother Meegan Hodges in 1989 before they rekindled their relationship in 2015. She shared a selfie and wrote in the caption, 'Whether I made you feel excluded, manipulated/ controlled you, told you to quit your day job from the comfort of being financially supported by my parents, or drowned real issues in toxic positivity-I am sorry' Slash initially dated Lucy-Bleu's mother Meegan Hodges in 1989 before they rekindled their relationship in 2015; pictured in 2019 In late August Los Angeles County's medical examiner released a statement saying that Lucy-Bleu's cause of death was hydrogen sulfide toxicity, and that the manner of death was suicide. Officials said that 'Knight was found unresponsive in a private residence on July 19 by law enforcement conducting a welfare check,' and that she was pronounced dead at 3 p.m. local time. Meegan remembered her daughter on September 2 during Suicide Awareness Month. Sharing with her 279,000 Instagram followers, she wrote, '#suicideawarness #bekind #988 #restinpeacemybeautifuldaughter Lucy-Bleu Knight 12/6/1998-7/19/2024.' Instagram Share or comment on this article: Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash pays tribute to stepdaughter Lucy five months after her shock suicide at age 25 e-mail 9 shares Add comment

South Korean president apologises, saying he won't shirk responsibility for attempt at martial law

Growth stocks can be a wild ride. The long-term upside usually comes with stomach-churning volatility. Monday.com ( MNDY 1.27% ) is currently experiencing ups and downs. At the time of this writing, shares have fallen approximately 28% from their highs. The company's software-as-a-service business model is disrupting how employees collaborate in the workplace, and additional catalysts like product expansion and artificial intelligence (AI) could produce long-term growth capable of delivering outsized returns. The company is executing at a high level, making this recent drop a buying opportunity. Here is what you need to know. Monday.com is poised to deliver long-term growth Monday.com's primary business is its cloud-based collaboration software. It's a low-code, highly customizable platform where people can organize tasks, share information, and integrate automation and apps to improve workplace efficiency. Today, over 225,000 customers use the product in 200 countries. The company's growth model is brilliant. It's free for the first two people in an organization, making it easy for any company to try. If they like it, the software spreads through the company, climbing the pricing ladder as more people use it. This sales process has produced a solid 111% net revenue retention rate , underlining how customers spend more over time. Monday.com's long-term upside depends on how it builds on its core project and task management software to penetrate adjacent markets. Since 2022, the company has launched several new products, including a customer relationship manager (CRM) for sales, Dev for product and development teams, and Service for IT and support. Monday.com has integrated various AI tools and features to enhance its products, leading to better user experiences and stickier customers. Today, Monday.com generates $906 million in annual revenue and grew over 32% year over year in Q3. How high Monday.com's ceiling is remains to be seen, but its product roadmap signals its intention to become a do-it-all enterprise software company. Some of the world's largest technology companies, like Adobe and Salesforce , deal in enterprise software. If Monday.com consistently converts companies to paid users and moves them up the pricing ladder, it will have a long growth runway. Elite execution, evidenced by its stellar Rule of 40 score Competition is fierce in enterprise software, with so many players that it can be hard to find the best of the bunch. Investors can use the Rule of 40 to identify which companies are performing at a high level. The Rule of 40 is a straightforward metric that measures a company's ability to grow without sacrificing profitability. Add a company's revenue growth rate to its free cash flow margin to calculate its Rule of 40 score. Anything 40 or above is typically considered a strong score: MNDY Operating Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts As you can see above, Monday.com grew revenue by 32.8% year over year in Q3 while converting 32.6% of its revenue to cash flow. That's a Rule of 40 score of just over 65, easily topping the standard benchmark. In other words, Monday.com's growth and pricing power show up in its financials. The stock is priced right after this decline Valuing Monday.com by its enterprise value against its revenue, the stock is well below its value coming out of the Everything stock market bubble in 2020 to 2021: MNDY EV to Revenues (Forward) data by YCharts Its valuation stands out (in a good way) compared to some of Wall Street's other top technology stocks, like CrowdStrike Holdings and Palantir Technologies . CrowdStrike's enterprise value-to-revenue ratio is almost double Monday.com's, yet it scored a lower Rule of 40 in Q3 (51). Palantir's Q3 Rule of 40 was a staggering 87, but its valuation is equally off the charts at an enterprise value-to-revenue ratio of 64. I would argue that Monday.com delivers better financial performance than most stocks today, yet its valuation is very reasonable compared to where other top tech stocks trade. If the company can continue its current path, Monday.com has a good shot at market-beating long-term investment results. If that happens, the stock probably won't stay this cheap forever.The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner.

Article content Trinity Tower is receiving an investment from the federal government to help with funding the creation of a 108-unit housing project. Trinity Tower, to be operated by the Cara Community Corporation, is a nine-story development on Northern Avenue East. The building will include 33 affordable housing units, 19 accessible units, a ground floor Anglican chapel and commercial space for offices, food, services and retail. Sal Dan Construction is the main contractor for the project. Sault MP Terry Sheehan said the funding will include $34 million in low interest repayable loans and $1.3 million in forgivable loans from the federal government’s Affordable Housing Fund. It will also receive $70,000 from the federal government through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s SEED funding program. The project, already under construction, is expected to be completed by the winter of 2026. “Affordable housing is one of the core issues facing our community and this investment in Trinity Tower will provide more people a safe and affordable place to call home. We will continue to work with partners to invest in affordable housing projects here at home and across the country,” said Sheehan. Sheehan called the project another example of a made-in-Sault Ste. Marie solution that is now being replicated across Canada. “We saw a partnership formed that help create more housing and a Legion building and now we see a partnership that’s creating a new church and housing,” he said. Sheehan said “everyone in Ottawa is talking about these partnerships” and how the Sault has used the funding programs to build new units, help communities grow and provide much-needed safe housing for the vulnerable. “It’s all about the formation of partnerships and working together,” he said. “Here, everyone is contributing and taking a piece and it makes perfect sense for developments like this.” Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said the city is experiencing a significant population growth for the first time in decades and the city has been working proactively with government and private sector partners to expand the local housing supply. “Trinity Tower exemplifies the ongoing effort to transform underdeveloped property into modern, accessible housing that makes the best use of those lands, and I’m grateful for support from the Government of Canada,” Shoemaker said. He said the chapel ensures the legacy of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church lives on and offers residents and the broader community a place for reflection and connection. “Trinity Tower is more than just a building. It is a symbol of what we can achieve when we work together to create a welcoming, supportive and thriving community for all,” Shoemaker said. The federal government’s National Housing Strategy is a 10-year, $115 billion plan designed to create more housing units across the country, including affordable housing units. Federal government data shows ss of September 2024, it has committed $57.57 billion to support the creation of over 156,000 units and the repair of over 297,000 units. These measures prioritize those in greatest need, including seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and women and children fleeing violence. The Affordable Housing Fund provides funding through low-interest and/or forgivable loans or contributions to partner organizations for new affordable housing and the renovation and repair of existing, affordable and community housing. The Affordable Housing Fund has also been utilized for another 1,033 homes in Sault Ste. Marie, that includes new builds and repairs. Share this Story : Federal government invests in partnerships to create housing, grow community Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

9 best winter gloves for womenPARIS (CP-AP) — Canadian striker Jonathan David scored twice to go past the 100-goal career mark for Lille in a 3-1 win over Brest in Ligue 1 play Friday. The 24-year-old from Ottawa turned in a man-of-the-match performance at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, assisting on his team's other goal as Lille extended its unbeaten run to 10 matches. David now has 17 in 23 games in all competitions this season and leads the French top tier with 11 goals. David, who joined Lille in August 2020 in a $46.5-million transfer from Belgium's KAA Gent, went into the game with 99 goals in all competitions. He finished it with 101 goals in 206 appearances for Lille. He put Lille ahead from the penalty spot after nine minutes and set up a second just before halftime when he got away from his marker and sent in a cross that Iceland international winger Hákon Haraladsson knocked home . Ludovic Ajorque got one back for Brest early in the second half but David restored Lille’s two-goal cushion when he pounced on a loose ball and scored. David, who tops Canada's men's scoring list with 31 goals from 59 appearances, is out of contract after this season and has been linked with a move to several top European clubs. Lille has not lost to Brest at home since 1989. Lille joined Marseille and Monaco in second place on 26 points, seven behind leader Paris Saint-Germain, which played Auxerre later on Friday. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer The Associated Press